What do you want in 2011?

[sheila]

We have just come back from two weeks in Arillas staying at the Rainbow again,  we found everywhere very quiet this year, Our fear is that more business will close, and less and less people will come. We love Arillas and don't want change but we fear that if it carries on how can they survive?

[Eileen]

We have just come back from two weeks in Arillas staying at the Rainbow again,  we found everywhere very quiet this year, Our fear is that more business will close, and less and less people will come. We love Arillas and don't want change but we fear that if it carries on how can they survive?

Sheila,  I can only answer with a reply I posted earlier....

"I would like to see a concerted effort by all local businesses to draw in new visitors."

Fortunately Becky has offered to orchestrate the promotion of existing and hopefully new ideas for sustainable tourism in Arillas. 

Eileen.

[Val 57]

Hi!

Just wanted to say that after spending two weeks in Arillas in July, that some transport to surrounding villages etc would be really nice. 

I would have loved to visit some of the nearby villages, but because of problems with walking due to back and leg pain, it was not possible..... 

A couple of years ago I went to Parga - just off Corfu on the mainland, and they had a "Road Train."  Sounds a bit commercialised but it wasn't!  It stopped off at various sites and then had a stop in a nearby village - just enough time to have a drink and get back on the train again.

Just think that it might help people who can't get around so easily who wanted a bit more variety with their holiday....

Val

[Eileen]

...
A couple of years ago I went to Parga - just off Corfu on the mainland, and they had a "Road Train." ...

Just think that it might help people who can't get around so easily who wanted a bit more variety with their holiday....
Val

Excellent Val! What a innovative solution to the transport problem!  An 'Around and About Arillas Road Train' couldn't fail to be a success

Eileen.

[justphil]

We're with you Val. Jen finds getting to the Rainbow from Brouklis a trial these days with her legs and back. The hill up towards San Stef is now not possible for her. We can't hire a car or I would get arrested for drink driving (if I didn't kill us or some poor innocent bystander first... )

Joking apart, a summer "bus" run maybe from Agios Georgios to San Stef that was a bit flexible on drop off points etc, might be a godsend for some of us if it could be made to pay.

Phil

[Val 57]

Thanks Eileen and Phil - wasn't sure if it would be appreciated because when I mentioned it to Thompson's rep she was convinced that it was a no - go area! 

Thing is, not everyone wants to rent a car/ quad on holiday - we intended to this year but one look at the roads put my daughter off and I was a non starter from the off!  Have traversed those roads before with my husband driving and was terrified to say the least.....  Wasn't his driving that was at fault but oh dear - the sheer drops had me clinging on to the side of the door and I was so anxious!

Val

[Janis]

What an excellent idea, Val! This September will be our fourth visit, and we walk as much as we are able, but a road train or similar would be fantastic!

Janis x

[Val n Bill]

Hello again val57 we were at the Mathraki with you and you daughter, your road train idea is great. We have been to other places in Greece that have them. Once in Crete we saw a lorry with wooden benches fastened in the back, very make shift, but people were glad to climb aboard to save their legs. No health and safety issues there.
           Val

[daisyday]

Really agree with this idea - transport would be perfect to nearby towns.  We hired a car but, I have to say, my husband wasn't very happy driving and we only got as far as Sidari before deciding to return and dump the car.  We walked into San Stef. a couple of times and walked every morning on the circular walk around Arillas but didn't venture very far apart from a couple of trips.  Local transport would have been the icing on the cake.  Still, hasn't put us off, such a lovely place - planning next year's trip as we speak!

[Maggie]

When we first came to arillas in 1993, there was a minibus used to run between the marina hotel and the tria adelphia, to transport people up and down the road. It was very handy when we had small kids.
Maybe something like that again would be good. Depends if someone wouls be willing to run it. Perhaps for a euro each way, it would be worth it.

[Eileen]

That must have been very handy Maggie

It definitely would be a good idea for an enterprising local to operate a bus - even just twice per day on specific days.  Perhaps picking up passengers in Arillas in the morning and dropping off around the local villages/resorts and back out again in the afternoon to pick them up.

Fortunately the villages and resorts are not too far flung from each other so for those who enjoy walking there is the opportunity to be dropped off in one place and picked up in another.

For example: A pleasant walk is from Sunset beach then down to the unspoilt village of Peroulades with it's narrow streets and ancient buildings, a stop off in Yiannis taverna... then down to Sidari but stopping off en-route yet again for more refreshment a The Orchard...cash m/c(!) in Sidari and home again.  That is only an example of the many walks slightly further afield than Arillas.  Some people may say that it's actually taking visitors out of Arillas to spend their euros elsewhere, however I feel it would broaden the variety of 'things to do' and encourage even more returnees to Arillas.

Just my pondering of course....!

[daisyday]

Pleasant walk?  That sounds like a marathon!  To San Steph and back was enough for us.  We did consider walking into Afionas but it was very hot when we were there in June and of course the walk starts off uphill.....Wish now we'd got a taxi there and walked back - may try that next time.

[Eileen]

Pleasant walk?  That sounds like a marathon! 

LOL...I should have made it clearer!  I meant it to be an example of one of the many walks which could be enjoyed from a bus drop off point.

Eileen.x

[daisyday]

Thank goodness you clarified that - I was beginning to think we were extremely lazy on our hols compared to the rest of you!

[Shuey]

We mentioned this to our rep at The Thomas Bay this year.  She thought it was an excellent idea but she obviously didn't mention it further.

A shame because i think alot of people from San Stef would use the service and vice versa for Arillas.  I think it would be beneficial for both resorts.